Last updated: October 2026

For most people making stickers at home in 2026, the best sticker machine is a 12-inch cutter with print then cut: the Silhouette CAMEO 5α (about $280) if you want to cut sheets up to 12 x 12 inches in Silhouette Studio, or the Cricut Maker 4 (about $329) if you want the largest print then cut areas on Letter, Legal, Tabloid and A3 paper in Design Space. On a tighter budget, the Silhouette Portrait 4 and Cricut Joy Xtra both print then cut on Letter-size sheets for under $200.

How we picked: compiled from manufacturer specifications, published prices and owner feedback patterns. We have not tested these machines ourselves. Our method.

How print then cut works

Every machine here uses the same basic process. You design the sticker on your computer, print it on your own home printer with a set of marks around it, then load the printed sheet into the cutter. The cutter’s optical sensor reads the marks and cuts around each sticker. Silhouette calls this Print & Cut and the marks “registration marks.” Cricut calls it Print Then Cut and the marks “cut sensor markings.” Cricut’s StickerPix Print + Cut, covered below, is the exception: it prints and cuts inside one box.

Two consequences follow. First, you need a color printer as well as the cutter, unless you buy the all-in-one. Second, the cuttable area is smaller than the sheet, because the marks and margins take up space.

Comparison table

MachinePrice (October 2026)Largest print then cut areaSheet sizes supportedSoftwareBest for
Silhouette CAMEO 5αAbout $280Up to 12 x 12 in material recommended, on a matSilhouette recommends 12 x 12 in maximumSilhouette Studio (Basic free)Silhouette users making full sheets of stickers
Silhouette Portrait 4About $200Up to 8.5 x 11 in materialLetter and smallerSilhouette Studio (Basic free)Small batches, small desks
Cricut Maker 4About $329 ($399 list)15.94 x 9.94 in on Tabloid; 15.44 x 10.64 in on A3A4, Letter, Legal, Tabloid, A3Design Space (free; Access is $9.99/month, optional)Largest print then cut sheets, Cricut users
Cricut Explore 5About $19915.94 x 9.94 in on Tabloid (Explore series table)A4, Letter, Legal, Tabloid, A3 (Explore series)Design SpaceMid-price Cricut for stickers and vinyl
Cricut Joy XtraAbout $149 sale ($179 list)9.94 x 7.44 in on Letter; 10.62 x 7.2 in on A4A4, LetterDesign SpaceCheapest Cricut with full-width print then cut
Cricut Joy 2About $999.94 x 3.19 in on LetterA4, LetterDesign SpaceLabels and narrow sticker strips only
Cricut StickerPix Print + CutAbout $299 (Essential bundle)4 x 7 in sticker sheetsCricut StickerPix sheets onlyDesign SpaceNo printer, no setup, small stickers

Cricut’s maximums come from its “How large can I Print Then Cut?” help article, which gives a maximum vertical and a maximum horizontal size for each page size. Cricut notes the cuttable area is not a full rectangle, so a design that uses the full height may not also get the full width. Silhouette does not publish an exact cuttable area; it gives a recommended maximum material size instead.

Picks by use case

Best if you already use Silhouette Studio, or want 12 x 12 sheets: Silhouette CAMEO 5α

The CAMEO 5α is Silhouette’s current 12-inch machine at $279.99 on Silhouette’s store. Silhouette’s help center recommends a maximum Print & Cut material size of 12 x 12 inches on a CAMEO, using a cutting mat. The CAMEO 5α moved to a four-point registration mark system, which Silhouette says improves both vertical and horizontal alignment compared with the older three-mark system.

Two points to weigh. Silhouette states a 1/16 inch margin of error between print and cut, which it suggests hiding with its Print Bleed feature. And Print & Cut works in the free Basic Edition of Silhouette Studio, so you do not need a paid upgrade for stickers. If your marks will not read, our registration marks guide walks through Silhouette’s list of causes.

Best for small batches on a budget: Silhouette Portrait 4

The Portrait 4 is $199.99 on Silhouette’s store and has an 8.5-inch cutting width. Silhouette recommends a maximum Print & Cut material size of 8.5 x 11 inches on Portrait models, which matches standard Letter sticker paper. Silhouette lists improved Print & Cut registration scanning among its features. If you only ever print on Letter sheets, the Portrait does the sticker job for less money and less desk space.

Best for the largest sticker sheets: Cricut Maker 4

Cricut lists the Maker 4 at $329 (down from a $399 list price) in October 2026. Its print then cut sizes come from Cricut’s Maker series table, which covers A4, Letter, Legal, Tabloid and A3. On Tabloid paper, Cricut gives a maximum of 15.94 inches vertical and 9.94 inches horizontal. You need a printer that handles Tabloid or A3 paper to use those sizes.

Cricut says Maker machines can print then cut on white, lightly colored and simple patterned materials, not only white. The newer Cricut Maker 5 ($349 on Cricut’s site, listed out of stock when checked) supports the same five page sizes, so it is worth comparing prices on both. The Maker 3 is discontinued; Cricut no longer sells it new.

Best mid-price Cricut: Cricut Explore 5

The Explore 5 is $199 on Cricut’s store, which makes it the cheapest current Cricut that cuts 12-inch-wide materials. Cricut’s help center has a dedicated Print Then Cut guide for the Explore 5, and its print then cut size table groups all Explore machines together, including Legal, Tabloid and A3 page sizes. The Explore line has one tool clamp to the Maker’s two, which matters for tools like the rotary blade but not for stickers.

Best cheap Cricut for stickers: Cricut Joy Xtra

The Joy Xtra is $149 on sale ($179 list) on Cricut’s store. It supports print then cut on Letter and A4 sheets only, with a maximum of 9.94 x 7.44 inches on Letter. Cricut lists a maximum cut size of 8.2 x 11.7 inches on its machine mat. For sticker sheets on standard paper, that is enough. The Joy 2, at $99, also does print then cut, but its maximum horizontal size on Letter is only 3.19 inches, so it suits labels and strips, not full sticker sheets.

Best if you do not want a printer at all: Cricut StickerPix Print + Cut

The StickerPix Print + Cut is a different kind of machine. Cricut describes it as an all-in-one that prints, laminates and cuts stickers, using dye-sublimation printing. The Essential bundle is $299 on Cricut’s store. The trade-offs are size and supplies: Cricut’s help center lists 4 x 7 inch sticker sheets, says the machine is designed for StickerPix Print + Cut materials and ink cartridges only, and states one ink cartridge is good for 36 prints. A refill set of 72 sticker sheets and 2 ink refills is $47.99, roughly 67 cents per sheet. It is the simplest route to a finished sticker, but not for large sheets or third-party paper.

Scan instead of print marks: Brother ScanNCut SDX125E

Brother’s ScanNCut takes another approach. It has a 600 dpi built-in scanner with on-screen editing, up to 11.7 inches wide, and works as a stand-alone machine without a computer. Brother lists it at $449.99 and says it cuts materials up to 3 mm thick. It is the pricier option and works differently from print then cut, so check Brother’s documentation for your workflow before choosing it for stickers.

Sticker paper and printer requirements

Printer

Cricut recommends an inkjet printer for print then cut. Its help center says laser printers are not for heat-sensitive materials such as printable vinyl or printable iron-on, and Cricut Printable Sticker Paper is labeled for inkjet printers only, with a warning that a laser printer may damage the materials or printer. To print then cut from Design Space on iPhone or iPad, Cricut says the printer must support AirPrint. Silhouette works with any printer your computer can print to, and notes that print quality and paper size options are controlled by your printer driver.

Cricut’s printer settings for print then cut: portrait orientation, highest print quality, no narrow margins, one page per sheet, no scaling (no “fit to page”), no edge-to-edge printing and no center alignment. Silhouette’s equivalent warning is that the printer’s page size must match the page size set in Silhouette Studio.

Paper finish and color

Both makers warn about shiny surfaces. Cricut’s compatible materials article says reflective materials, including metallic, glitter and glossy finishes, are not supported because they can stop the sensor reading the marks or cause offset cuts. Silhouette lists dark colors and surface types “not conducive to the optic scanner” as a cause of failed or misaligned Print & Cut jobs. Matte white sticker paper is the safe choice.

Cricut’s newer machines handle more than white. Cricut says the Maker machines, Explore 3 and later, Venture, Joy Xtra and Joy 2 can print then cut on white, lightly colored and simple patterned materials.

Cut settings for sticker paper

Kiss cuts (through the sticker, not the backing) and full cuts need different settings. Our cut settings reference collects the published starting points from Cricut and from sticker paper makers. Always do a test cut on each new paper.

FAQ

Which Cricut machines can do print then cut? Cricut lists the Joy Xtra, Joy 2, all Explore machines, all Maker machines and Venture. The original Cricut Joy cannot.

Can I use glossy sticker paper? Both Cricut and Silhouette warn that glossy and reflective surfaces can stop the sensor from reading the marks or cause offset cuts. Test one sheet before buying in bulk.

Do I need an inkjet printer? Cricut recommends inkjet, and its printable sticker paper is inkjet only. Check your sticker paper’s label for the printer type it is made for.

What is the biggest sticker sheet I can print and cut at home? Among these machines, Cricut’s Maker and Explore series support Tabloid and A3 paper, with a maximum of about 15.94 x 9.94 inches on Tabloid. You need a printer that handles those sizes.

Is the free Silhouette software enough for stickers? Yes. Silhouette’s help center says Print & Cut is included in all editions of Silhouette Studio, including Basic.

Sources